Aibshie



L; VVT'MAMMEN 5 AIRSHIP Filed July 10. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 7, 1928.

L. w. MAMMEN AIRSHIP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7, 1928.

L. W. MAMMEN AIRSHIP Filed July 10,- 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 7, 1928.

1,658,452 L. W.- MAMMEN AIRSHIP Filed July 10, 1926 5 Sheets- Sheet 4 M 8 Wi-W (3 L. W. MAMMEN AIRSHIP Filed July 10. 1926 Feb. 7, 1928.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

LAWRENCE W. MAMMEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIRSHII.

Application filed July 10,

My invention relates to improvements in a dirigible air ship and more particularly to the type of air ship disclosed in my pendinc application Serial No. 52.553-

My present invention relates to an air ship of a construction formed to assist the lifting medium or gas; wherein the roof or covering of the deck portion is adapted to act as a plane; with the root of the deck provided with a vacuum forming portion and other refinements in construction over those disclosed in the application referred to being involved. as will be more specifically pointed out in the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 a perspective view of my improved air ship with a portion of the outer covering broken away, to disclose internal construction. a

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional. plan of the upper part of the ship. namely the por tion located immediately beneath the gas chambers.

Figure 3 is vertical sectional view taken approxinlatelv along the longitudinal centerline of the ship.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line l-4. of Figure 8.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view in perspective of a portion otthe keel and a portion of the transverse trame members.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing a portion of the keelv and a rib. illustrating the manner of securing same together.

Figure 7 is a schematic elevation of the main portion of the air ship beneath the gas tanks or receptacles with the upper portion omitted illustrating; the structure as a heavier than air flvingz' ship.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on. the offset line 88 of Figure 3 looking in the direction ot the arrows.

.Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Figure 3 looking downwardly.

Figure 10 is a similar view taken substantiallv on the line 10-10'ot Figure 8 looking; downwardly.

, Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the skeleton or frame of the air ship illustrating one end for example the for- 1926. Serial No. 121,528..

ward end of the ship; parts of the frame similar to Figure 9, illustrating a modified form. Y

My invention. as disclosed in the accompanymg drawlngzs. relates to improvements in air ships and more particularly to the type of air ship disclosed in my pending appllcation'Serial No. 52.553. That is to say.

my invention relates ,to air ships wherein all portions of the air ship proper will be supported from-the keel ot the ship and the deck-supporting elements so that all strains will he transmittedv to the. keel; with all of the main frame members formed of comparat-ively light metal of cross sectional configuration adapted to w thstand the strains and stresses; the main frame members of my improved ship being preferably T-shape in cross sectional configuration so as to be reen-v forced and to provide suitable attaching surfaces.

The invention involves an air ship so constructedthat the root portion of the deck will assist in ascent and flight, acting as a plane; the upper construction being such that it will act somewhat in the nature of a parachute and materially assist inv the descent of the ship.

The main frame consists of a suitable metallic keel 20 bowed at the ends to provide the desired hull so constructed as to adapt it to float on water: the keel being reen'forced by the truss member 21. the ends. whereof are secured to the keel adjacent to the bowed ends of the latter. The truss member 21 is disposed or bowed upwardly in'a vertical direction to also constitute a support for the deck frame of the ship. The framework also involves the various truss members 22 the ends whereof are secured to certain of the ribs 23 of the hull and bow inwardly and upwardly into juxtaposition with the truss member 21, see Figure 13. the vreentorcing longitudinal truss members Q l'secured to the upwardly disposed portions of the rib members 23 and bowed late erally toward the longitudinal center line of the ship. The truss members 24L are disposed immediately beneath "the-deck of "the ship (see Figure 13). The various truss members, as will be seen in Figure 11, all bow toward the longitudinal center iline rof the ship into juxtaposition with the longitudinal deck supporting beam 25. The main framework also involves the roof supporting truss member 26, which-bows downwardly toward the longitudinal center line and into juxtaposition withthe previously mentioned truss members and longitudinal-deck beam 25, and the 'truss 'members'27, 27, bowing inwardly and downwardly from the roof frame toward the deck beam 25,-see'Figure l3. These various meinbersare preferably T-shape in cross-section, and at the inpurpose of receiving the main leg of the various T-shaped truss nembers referred to; while the otherlegs or transversely disposed head portions oftlie truss .membersiare intended to extend flush withthe outer faces of the member 28-and to be:riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The various faces .or

[facets of the blockl28 :are shown provided with rivet or bolt-receiving openings 31.. It Wlll be :understood .that thezvariousl truss .members 21, .22, 24, 26 and 27. are so. ar

ranged that the main .legof the T will enter the respective slots .30 of the ,reenforcing member 28. That is to say, slot-.30 'inlthe uppermost fZlC-QeOfiillflHlGHlbGl 28is adapted to receive the roof trussmember 26; the-two upper sloping faces are intended to receive the truss members 27, 27 thetwo vertical sideefaces to receive th-etruss members 2%, 24; the. lowermost horizontally disposed face receives thekeel truss 2.1; while the two lower-sloping facesreceive the 'truss memhere .22, .22. The framework :involves suitable truss and brace members, asat 32, suitably connected toithe keelandto ,the deck supporting beam to provide arigid structure adapted to withstand the strains and stresses. The framework, as previously stated,is of comparatively light metal, with the keel'20 shown in the form of an I-beam having its web or intermediatev portion. at spaced intervals, provided with slots adapted for the passage of therib members 23 :herethrough; the rib members like the va The various rib members 23 provide a isuitable' bottom for the air ship and are made to extend continuously about the air 's'hip; certain of the ribs, in conjunction with the deck beam 25 and truss members 24, 24, constituting the supporting frame for the deck floor others constitute a support for the ceiling or roof of the deck and there fore constitute a support for the bottom of the compartmentin which the gas holding receptacles orcontainers of the ship are located; while other ribs are formed to extend over the gas container holding compartment; with a further set of ribs extendin upwardly over the receptacles or 001 tainers; and still another set disposed acro' the outer covering ot the ship, see l and 3. This arrangement ofthe rib-v substantially like that disclosed and described in my pending application vtlerial No. 52,553. That is to say, the ribs are 1 Cir ternately formed of different lengths so tl' all portions of the ship are supported from and all pullingstrains or stresses are transmitted to the heel of the ship.

The roof of the ship involves the frame uiembersllE-l, 33 extend ng lengthwise of the ship, with portions adjacent to the bow or forward end of the ship bowed upwardly the intermediate part of the bowed portion given a further upward curvature or bend as indicated at 34; in Figure 11;

v and all; of the frame members shown connected together at the \u'merhowed port "is 3a b worse frame member l' 'i ith this construction it will be i that the root adjacent to the forward end oi? the ship is provided witl a vacuum chamber or pocket having the upper or super vac-nun pocket formed by the portion 34%;. It will be understood that my improved air ship ill?) lli) intended to be open from frontto rear above the deck so that g from. end to end above the neath the roof is PI'OVKlQtl.

he roof to act as a plr chambers or pockets fllSZ) air as 'fe will a or "age extending deck and be- .This permits lile the vacuum y in lifting root members with a suitable are intended to be provided covering. indicated :wt and 8, disposed entn'eiy downwardly along 01);

The eh m ilti'aud above themain Figures 1, 3 s the top and which latter is preferably provided at various points with. a number of ventilators d0, 41. The ventilators are d sposed throughout the lower part of the cverhai'iging portion of the air space or chamber and of any suitable construction and arrangement;

for example of a slidablc type operatively connected together so that they maybe simultaneously operated from a common point. It will be understood that the overhanging outer portion of the air ship may be properly supported by any suitable number of brace rods or tie w res oil. the type and in the manner usually employed. The outer covering, at suitable intervals, is'shown provided with vents as at 42 whereby air may be pern'iitted to gradually escape from the upper or parachute portion of the ship.

The root or upper portion of the ship,

namely the portion above the root of the deck, is shown provided witha nrunber of independent gas-eholding chambers or tanks or receptacles are shaped to conform t the upper portion oi the ship to offer as little resistance as possil'ile. The gas tanks or. receptacles may be provided a. any suitable point with lilling cocks acce ble from the deck of the ship and each tank or receptacle is provided with a conduit or pipe 4:5 extending downwardly to a: gas-bag or preferably collapsible receptacle shown at L6 in Figures 3 and 8 arr need in a suitable protecting framework disposed along the bottom of the ship. The auxiliary bag or receptacle 4:6 is for the purpose of relieving the pressure in the gas receptacles or chambers ll-3; the conduits or pipes being provided with suitable valves automatically operable the event thatthe presmre in the receptacles or tanks reaches apredetermined lcurecl I 3 v the ship has attained a certaui altitude. By

providi the auxilia z-receiving bag, the pre ire in the tim away thus auto-' inatically be relieved and lossv oi the gas thus prevented.

In the construction as urcs 1, 3 and 9. the ship -lliestrated in Fig a provided at the l bow or forward end and at the longitudinal centerline with a pilot cabindicated at 4-7 and with the cabins d8, at opposite sides oi. the ship adjacent to the stern thereot', thus providing an open air passage on opposite sides of the pilot cabin having an as when intermediate restricted portion at a point intermediate of the cabins 4L8 and flaring toward'the stern of the ship.

L n Figure 14 it show a modification oi the deck portion ot'the ship in so far as. the arrangement of the cabins are concerned; the forward portion of the shipbeing provided with the pilot cabin 47 as in Figure 9, while the cabin or stateroom compartment is located at the longitudinal center line of the ship as indicated at 49 in Figure 14, thus causing the air passage above the deck to be divided by the compartment l9; the walls or the cabins and compartments being 'lorn'ied to otl eras little resistance as possible.

The deck is shown provided with a numtil) ber of hatchways generally indicated at 50,

while the cabins are shown provided with stairs at 51 to permit access to the engine or motor. compartment in the hull of the ship and to the cargo containing. portion of' the hull which latter is shown in Figure 10.

The ship in the specific exemplification is shown provided with a number of high speed motors generally indicated at 52 suitably mounted in the bow and stern oi the hull for the purpose of operating the respective propellers 53 and to provide powor for operating any of the other power ac tuated elements or the ship. The hull of the shipis provided with a plurality of par-' titions 54 for dividing the hull into a series of suitable compartments for the purpose of holding the lading and maintaining the lat ter in its distributed position to properly equalize or distribute the weight throughout the ship and to prevent such shifting oi? the lading as would disturb the equilibrium,

of the ship. The partitions in the hull are arranged to provide the gangways or passages 55, 56, see Figure 10- and the various partitions may be provided with slide doors or other suitable closure members 57 to permit access to the respective compartments.

As seen in Figure 10, the ladingholding chambers are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the ship and made oisubstantially similar dimension for the purpose just mentioned.

The ship, intermediate of the deck and the root portion 36, namely at the point where the root is given the upward bulge or arcuate formation to provide the vacuum chamber and super-vacuum pocket, is shown provided with a suitable number of planes indicated at58 and. 59 arranged one above the other in spaced relation and extending preferably entirely across the deck intermediate of the side walls, with the exception of the lower plane 59, the end portions or sections 592, 59" whereof extend through suitable oi i-enings formed in the side walls of the ship. The planes 58, 58 are'preferably rigidly secured in place with the rearward ion and downward slope or declination, see Figure 3,'in order that the air rushing throughthe passagewayi on the check when encounterring the planes 58, 58 will assist in lifting the ship. The planes are supported and braced in any suitable manner, as for example by means of rods 60, ()0 secured to the ship frame and preferably suitablyconnected to certain of the main frame members in order that the lifting strains may be transferred to the keel or mainframe portions of the ship. The lower plane as previously stated consists of the intermediate section 59 disposed transversely of the lOl'l gitudinal center line of the ship and the two end sections which extend out beyond the sides of the ship. 'lhese sections are hingedly secured in place in any suitable manner, as for example by having the forward portions of the sections hingedly secured zit-61 and each section adapted to be independently controlled in any suitable manner, as for example by means of wires or cables 62 which may extend downwardly through the deck about pulleys and adapted to be controlled from a commonpoint by the pilot. As previously stated, the various sections of the'lower plane may be simultaneously tilted to .a proper angle relative to the line of flight or the sections may be separately operated and set at varying inclinations or angles.

The ship is also shown provided with the side wings or planes 63, 63arranged on opposite sides and of any suitable construction and size; the wings or planes68 being either fixedly secured. in place or hingedly mounted as defined in my previous application Serial No. 52,553.

The sides of the ship adjacent to the bow and adjacent to the stern is also shown provided with the auxiliary wings or planes 64, 6d and 65, 65, see Figures 9 and 14. The stern of the ship is'shown provided with arudder indicated at 66. The planes 65 may be arranged in pairs one above the other as shown in Figure 1, supported by any suitable frame and the planes all controlled and operable froma common point, namely the pilot cabin by any suitable mechanism which need notbe described.

The construction illustrated in Figure 7 is substantially the construction of the air ship previously described, except that the gas receptacle holt ing portion of the ship above the roof is omitted. The construction in Figure '7 discloses a heavier than air ship, in which the roof, as previously stated, acts as a plane and is provided with the vacuum chamber and super-Vacuum pocket which will materially assist in lifting the ship.

The bottom of the ship is shown provided with beams or runners 67, 67 extending lengthwise on opposite sides of the keel. These runners at the same time act as stilleners for the frame. 68 is an observation tower.

- I have shown what I believe to be simple embodiments of my invention which have been described in terms employed merely as terms of descriptionand not as. terms of limitation as structural modificatinos are pos sible and may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an air ship provided with a deck, side walls extendingabove the deck and a ceiling or root, the ship at the bow and stern and between the deck and root being open to provide an air passage lengtl'iwise of the ship, a plurality of planes arranged transversely of the ship one above the other be-. tween the deck and-the roof, one of said planes being formed in sections, with the end section disposed beyond the side walls, and means for tilting said plane-sections.

In an air ship provided with a deck, side walls extending above the deck and a roof, the walls at the bow and the stern being open to provide air passage lengthwise oi the ship between the deck and roof, a sectional plane arranged transverselyof the ship between the deck and roof, with the end sections extending beyond the sidewalls, said sections being pivotally mounted, and means whereby said sections may be separately tilted.

3. in an air ship, a frame comprising a keel, transversely disposed ribs, a deck beam, roof members, truss members secured, respectively, to the keel, to the ribs and to the roof members, all said truss members being bowed toward a common point on said deck beam, and a coupling member common to all of the said truss members whereby the latter are reenforced and coupled to the deck beam.- 7

i. In an air ship, a frame comprising a keel, ribs disposed transversely of the keel and disposed upwardly at opposite sides of the ship, roof members, a deck beam, truss members secured at their ends, respectively, to the keel, to ribs and to the root members, all bowing toward the deck beam, and

a slotted coupling member adapted to re-' ceive an intermediate portion of all of the truss members and of the deck beam whereby the truss members and deck beam are coupled together.

5. In an air ship, a frame comprising a keel, ribs disposed transversely through the keel and disposed upwardly at opposite sides of the ship, roof members disposed lengthwise of the ship, a deck beam, truss members secured at their ends, respectively, to the keel, to the ribs and to the roof members and extending lengthwise of the ship, all of said truss members bowing inwardly toward the deck beam, a coupling member slotted through the center to receive the llll) deck beam and slotted on. its outer perimeter to receive the respective truss members, and means for securing the coupling member to the truss members. i 1 I 6. In an air ship, a framecomprising a deck beam extending lengthwise of the ship, truss members disposed above, beneath and on opposite sides of the. beam, all of said truss members bowing toward the deck beam, and a coupling member composed oi a metallic block cored at its center for passage of the deck beam therethrough, the sides of the block being longitudinally slotted to receive the respective truss members which are riveted thereto. v 7. In an air ship, a frame comprising a keel, the ends whereof are bowed upwardly, a deckbeam secured at its ends to the keelends, ribs disposed transversely of the keel and secured thereto, all of said ribs being disposed upwardly at opposite sides of the ship, root members secured to the upwardly the respective truss members.

8. I11 an air ship, a frame comprising a keel consisting of an I-beam having upwardly disposed ends and provided with openings through the web portion, ribs of T-iron disposed through said openings in the web of the keel, a T-shaped deck beam, T-shaped roof members, T-shaped truss members, all of the truss members bowing inwardly toward the deck beam, and coupling means consisting of an elongated block having a T,-sha ped opening therethrough at its long1tud1nal center to receive the deck-beam, the block being of polygonal cross-section with each face slotted longitudinally to receive the main leg of the T-iron constituting the various truss members, while the laterally disposed head portions of the T-irons are secured on the respective faces of the elongated block.

9. In an air ship, a frame comprislng a deck beam, truss members disposed lengthwise of the ship and all bowed inwardly toward the deck beam, the beam and truss,

members being T-shaped in cross-section, and a coupling member comprising an elongated metallic block of polygonal cross-section, a T-shaped slot through the block adaptedto receive the deck beam while each outer face is slotted longitudinally to receive a leg of a truss member, with the transverse head portion of each truss member dismember and secured thereto.

10. An air ship comprising a hull portion provided with a deck, the hull portion beneath the deck being divided into lading re ceiving compartments uniformly arranged on opposite sides of the median line of the ship and motor containing compartments, all oi said compartments being independently accessible, a pilot cabin on the deck at the bow and median line of the ship, passenger cabins on the deck toward the stern of the ship, and a roof over the deck'provided with an upward bulge disposedtransversely between the front and rear ends of the ship, and side walls open atthe front and rear ends of the ship whereby an air passage lengthwise of the deck is provided. i r

11. An air ship comprising a hull portion provided with a deck, .a roof portion above the deck, cabins on the deck arranged so as to provide an open air passage between the deck and roof portion and extending from end to end of the air ship, gas-holding cham bers arranged in the roof portion, an auxiliary gas-holding receptacle in the hull portion, and connections intermediate of the gas-holding chambers and the auxiliary gasholding' receptacle adaptedto convey the gas from the gas-holdingchambers to said auxiliary receptacle.

12. An air ship comprising a hull portion provided with a deck, a roof port-ion provided with gas-holding chambers, side walls disposed upwardly from the hull, portion to the root portion open at the front and rear ends of the ship to provide an air passage lengthwise of the deck, an auxiliary gas-receiving'receptacle located in the hull portion and having valved conduit connecttion with the gas-holding chambers for receiving the gas from said chambers when the pressure exceeds a predetermined degree.

13. An air ship comprising a hull portion provided with a deck, a roof portion above the deck adapted to act as a carrier or plane, side walls disposed from the hull portion over the roof portion with openings at the frontand rear ends of th-e ship to provide an air passage between the deck and roof, a rudder arranged in alignment with the rear end of said air passage, vertically spaced planes arranged intermediate of the deck and roof, one of said planes being made in sections with the end sections extending beyond the sides of the ship, the sections being tiltably mounted, vertically spaced planes arranged in pairs on each side of the rudder, a wing secured to each side of the ship, propellers fore and aft, and means whereby the sections of the sectional plane may be independently operated.

14:. A power driven air ship comprising a hull provided with a deck, a roof substantially coextensive with. and disposed throughout-l-fitheleugth of the deck. and provicled with an upward'bulge or-pocket disposed transversely from side to side of the root in termediate of. the fore and aft part thereof, cabins [arranged on the deck,- the walls ofthe cabins reaching .irom deck to roof and formed towprovidean air passage between the deck. and roof, and a rudder arranged atthe stern in alignment with said air passage.

15. An air ship provided with a root and comprising a keel, a deck beam disposed lengthwise above the keel, truss beams intermediate of the keel and the deck beam.

truss members bowin toward the deck beam and a .coupling memberconimon to all of the truss members whereby they are con- 1 pied to the deckbeam. v 17. In an air ship provided with a deck,

side walls extending above the deck, a roof, an open ended air-passage. between the. deck and root extending trombowto stern, anda sectional plane arranged betweenwdeck and rooii'transver-sel of the ship with the sections pivotally mounted and separately tilt-'- able.

18. An air ship provided with a keel, a

deck beam, root members, truss members-she.

tween the keel and deck beam and between the deck beam and root members, all of'the ru s m r xi owarc a .common t s embes born t 1 point, and; a coupling member adapted to receive the deck beam and all oi said truss members whereby all strains aretransmittedto thekeehthe portion of the ship beneath the deck being vprovided with a plurality of compartments arranged uniformly on opposite sides of the median line of the ship,

with all of thecompartments independently acecssiblefromthe deck of the ship.

19. An air ship comprising a hull portion provided with a deck, thehullportion-beneath the deck being divided into lading rer ceiving compartments uniformly arranged on opposite sides of the median line of the ship andmotor containing compartments, all

of said compartments being:independently accessible.

LAW RENCE W. lliiiMl-JEN; 

